Ashling Murphy's boyfriend settles defamation case against the BBC
Ryan Casey sued the BBC following the broadcast of an episode of the political programme The View on November 30th, 2023.
Advertisement
The programme was broadcast nearly two weeks after Mr Casey had delivered a victim impact statement at the sentence hearing of Jozef Puska for the murder of Ms Murphy.
In a statement released after the High Court settlement on Thursday Mr Casey said the resolution of the case marked "the end of a long and difficult chapter."
He said it was never about him, but was about truth, fairness and decency.
The BBC said it was "happy to clarify" that it does not consider Mr Casey to be "someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred".
Advertisement
Mr Casey had taken the case in relation to a BBC Northern Ireland broadcast of 'The View' programme in November 2023, relating to Mr Casey's victim impact statement at the sentencing of Ms Murphy's murderer Josef Puska.
At the High Court Alan Keating SC, for the BBC, read out a statement on the settlement of the case on behalf of the broadcaster.
"In the BBC's November 30th, 2023 episode of its live political programme 'The View', Mr Ryan Casey's victim impact statement at the sentencing of his late partner's murderer was discussed.
"The BBC stands by the journalism involved in this episode which debated serious issues of public interest.
Advertisement
"The BBC is happy to clarify that it does not consider Ryan Casey to be a criminal or a racist or someone guilty of or attempting to incite hatred, or someone seeking to pose as a hero of the Far Right through his victim impact statement.
"The BBC acknowledges Mr Casey's personal tragedy. This statement clarifies any unintentional inferences that could have been drawn from the broadcast and has enabled the BBC and Ryan Casey to resolve this matter amicably," the statement read.
It is understood the settlement is a six-figure sum.
Mr Justice Alexander Owens then struck out the case and made no order.
Advertisement
Jozef Puska (35) murdered Ms Murphy (23) on January 12th, 2022, by repeatedly stabbing her in the neck after attacking her while she exercised along the canal towpath outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He was later convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.
Originally from Slovakia, he had lived in Offaly since 2015 with his wife and five children.
At his trial he claimed she had been killed by a masked man who had also attacked him. But the jury found him guilty of murder.
Ireland
Josef Puska's two brothers and their wives guilty...
Read More
Outside court Mr Casey said he took the legal action against the BBC not solely out of anger, but out of a need for accountability and dignity for Ashling, for himself, their families and for all victims, who he said deserved to have their voices heard without such harsh criticism or judgement.
Advertisement
He said he hoped it would be a reminder to all media organisations of the high level of responsibility that came with running such public platforms.
He said he was now finally free to use his voice again to honour Ashling, and, he said, advocate for the changes desperately required in this country.
He said he wanted everyone to honour Ashling by building a better and safer Ireland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Pegswood 'bully' secretly bugged ex's home for five years
A "bully" who secretly bugged his ex-partner's home after tormenting her with domestic abuse during their relationship has been jailed for two years and nine Gauci, 53, hid seven listening devices in electrical sockets in the woman's home having made multiple threats to kill her during a campaign of controlling behaviour, Newcastle Crown Court woman said she had been living in "crippling" fear for years and felt "sick", paranoid and unsafe in her own of Pegswood in Northumberland, had admitted stalking but denied controlling and coercive behaviour, however jurors found him guilty of the second offence as well. Gauci was 30 and the woman 19 when they first got together in 2002, Judge Robert Spragg said, with the couple going on to have several lived separately with Gauci "like a yoyo" with his visits and in effect carrying on the life of a single man while she raised their children and waited for him, the judge she asked if would move in with her, Gauci, who ran a plumbing and heating business, refused and told her no man would want to be with her, the court heard. 'Check the sockets' In February 2016, the relationship ended and the woman started dating someone else, the court was Gauci, of Front Street, found out, he became "very jealous" and threatened to shoot her and bury her in the garden, the judge demanded the woman get back with him and then "forced" her to go to the supermarket where the other man worked and break up with him, the court judge said that was done to humiliate the woman and Gauci went on to threaten the and the woman resumed their relationship but his controlling behaviour become even worse, the court would search through her mobile phone when she was asleep, demand she video call him when she went to meet family so he could see who was there and would fly into rages, the judge relationship ended again in 2020 and two years later a friend advised her to check her electrical sockets, the courts were called and discovered listening devices in her kitchen, bedroom, living room and dining room which had been hidden there in 2017, the judge said. 'Shocking invasion' In a statement read to the court, Gauci's victim said she would "never be the same" and did not feel safe in her own said she lived in a "constant state of fear and stress" which was "crippling", adding it would always be an "open wound".The woman said she felt "sick and shocked" about the bugging and was unable to trust said Gauci had "taken everything" from her and would "bully and control" her. Judge Spragg said Gauci was "fuelled by jealousy" and sought to control every aspect of her life, culminating with the "sinister" planting of listening devices."It was a shocking invasion of her privacy," the judge said.A restraining order banning Gauci from contacting the woman was made to last indefinitely. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Victims 'haunted' by Trimdon Grange child molester's attacks
A child abuser who molested two girls almost a decade apart has been jailed for 16 Tate, 48, told his young victims no one would believe them and they were to blame after he sexually abused them, Durham Crown Court Nathan Adams said both victims had been "haunted" by his from Trimdon Grange in County Durham, had denied all offending but was found guilty of five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. His first victim said she felt "physically sick" seeing or hearing his name, even if it was being used by someone else on said the abuse had been "devastating" for her mental health and she was "always replaying" what he did and his telling her no one would said she had been made to feel as though the abuse was her fault but she now knew the truth. 'Took childhood away' Tate's second victim, who he abused about nine years after the first, said the assault had "tortured" her said she had been a "scared little girl" and Tate "convinced" her she was to blame for what happened."You took away my childhood but you will not take away my future," the victim said, adding he had "never been man enough" to admit what he Adams said despite Tate's "protestations of innocence" and complete lack of remorse, "clearly [the abuse] took place".He said both victims were "haunted" by the memories of Tate's been deemed to be an "offender of particular concern", Tate, of Hopper Terrace, will have to serve a further year on extended licence upon his eventual release from will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life and comply with a sexual harm prevention order banning him from being in the company of any girl under 18, for 20 years. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Man guilty after drugging and raping woman for years in Swindon
A man has been found guilty of numerous offences after spiking a woman's flu pills with sleeping tablets and raped her while she slept for Hampton, 50, of Hollingbourne, Kent, was found guilty of seven counts of rape counts of rape, four counts of assault by penetration and two counts of administering a drug with intent in a trial at Swindon Crown court heard Hampton committed the offences between January 2017 and October 2020 in Swindon on a woman in her a victim statement, the woman said: "I still have daily flashbacks and nightmares, both of what happened and the unknowns." The court was told Hampton drugged the victim against her will on multiple occasions, and also attempted to spike her food with sleeping pills. He then shared videos and images of his offending to other people."The psychological damage cannot begin to be put into words, and I don't know how to try and express the impact this has had on me," she said."I worry for my future, that I will never be able to trust anyone again, that I will never enjoy a healthy relationship again, that I will never be me."Investigating officer Det Con Kolasinski said: "There is no place in society for the horrific criminality that has taken place here. "It represents some of the worst behaviour imaginable in humanity and has no place in this day and age."The courage that she has demonstrated should be admired and inspire others to come forward should they fall victim in such an egregious circumstance."A jury found Hampton guilty on 26 June and he is set to be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 2 October.
